So What Is This Mindfulness Business Everyone Is Raving About These Days?

Mindfulness is essentially the building block to a life not skipped over.

mindfulness

ˈmʌɪn(d)f(ʊ)lnəs/noun

1.the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.

2.a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

At its core, mindfulness allows us to observe and train our minds, overcome our negativities and fulfil our inner potential.

Mindfulness is the practice of focusing your awareness and attention on what is happening right now, by observing what’s going on inside (your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations) and outside (your interactions and surroundings) with curiosity, openness and acceptance.

It is the practice of paying attention — to thoughts, physical sensations, and the environment — without constantly feeling the need to judge what’s happening or to make it other than it is. Mindfulness is a way of meeting our experience with the presence of mind to respond skilfully to life’s challenges, rather than reacting based on intense emotions.

Mindfulness allows us to be calm and not self critical, accepting not judging.

It’s not about running from, ignoring or suppressing emotions it’s allowing us to not be overwhelmed by our emotions accepting them as that come and go. It’s not about controlling our thoughts, but rather thoughts not controlling us.

Mindfulness activities are designed to guide to to become a more mindful human being, one who can focus and pay attention and follow through with their intentions and goals. A person who can feel intense emotions rise, and rather than react and project, they reflect and respond responsibly. Mindful listening? Let me tell you, that skill is going to be the make or break for every relationship you ever have for the rest of your life.

Mindful sensing? The key to developing the skill that sets apart those who live in fear and those who thrive in their own self power; confidence and intuition.

Mindful eating and body awareness? That’s going to determine your physical and mental health and whether you are popping anti-inflams and lithium at 68 or doing yoga, rocking it out at golf with your homies and having enough energy to play with your grandchildren (and don’t forget the love for lovin’).

Mindful breathing allows you to find calm, love and peace amongst chaos. These practices ultimately lead to emotional resilience, compassion, generosity, inspiration for life, kindness and selflessness; less me more we. We need the world to be more mindful, we need our children to be more mindful. We need us to be more mindful.

So, yeah, it’s the bee's knees, the humdinger and bomb diggity. Mindfulness is where it’s at.

Mindfulness is simple, but not easy. It is a skill that we need to practice. When we practice it, mindfulness allows us to live with a greater sense of calm, balance, and ease.